Commuting and Health – Research and Policy Forum

This meeting was held on Wednesday 21 January 2015, 10.00am – 2.00pmPitt Building, Cambridge

The way we travel can affect our health and the health of people around us. In the Commuting and Health in Cambridge study funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), researchers have been following the travel and physical activity patterns of commuters since 2009, seeking to understand more about why people use different modes of transport and how this is related to physical activity, health and wellbeing.

A key aim of the study has been to assess the impact of new transport infrastructure in the form of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, which opened in 2011 and provides dedicated traffic-free facilities for buses, cyclists and pedestrians.

Programme and formatThis research and policy forum was an opportunity to learn more about our findings and discuss their implications for health, planning and transport policy. Following a ‘marketplace’ format, the event combined short plenary sessions with the opportunity to visit a variety of stands to discuss particular topics in greater depth, and exchange ideas with researchers and local and national policymakers.

Qualitative research projectWe also used the opportunity of the forum to conduct a small research project to learn more about our stakeholders’ needs and the value of this kind of knowledge exchange. We are making unattributable notes of the discussions that take place, and are inviting some attendees to a later interview to explore their views in greater detail. All contributions will remain anonymous. By registering online for the Forum, participants gave their agreement to the study team making general observations of the event.